Dreams

The room fell into silence when Jephthah asked the question. Sir Dapil blankly stared at the ground.

"It all started with this strange dream. I thought nothing of it at first but it kept reoccurring every night when I laid my head down to rest and started troubling me, making me lose my peace of mind and haunting me." Sir Dapil recounted.

"So what was this nightmare?" Jephthah asked as he glanced at the other two ladies who seemed to have gotten their minds as their faces had a lively color instead of the pale white skin they had earlier.

"The first time it occurred was last week, I was tired from the day's work and went to retire. When I laid down my head I went to sleep instantly which was quite unusual as I needed to take medicine to sleep. I blamed it on my tired mind. But as I slept, I started dreaming almost instantly. 

I don't know what you see in your dreams but as I recounted it to the Seer, that's when I noticed that the dream started the moment I slept. It was dark, pitch black, I don't know how to explain where I was because I did not see my body on any occasion but I could feel and see as much as the entity pleased. But it felt like a vast empty place, a void.

So in the middle of the darkness, I noticed the silhouette. It makes more sense describing it to be human than saying it tried to look human. I could sense it watching me. Just silently watching me."

"So it only watched you in your dreams?" Jephthah asked to be clear.

Sir Dapil shook his head and gently rubbed the palm of his hands. "Silently watching me, waiting for me to fall asleep ."

"And that is why you went to the seer? If I am correct ." Jephthah asked to confirm.

"Exactly." The younger-looking of the two ladies finally said something as she leaned off the shelf, butting into the conversation.

"And what did she say?" Jephthah asked as he exchanged glances from Sir Dapil to the younger-looking lady.

"I don't understand how this will help you create the weapon?" Lady Sanaea asked as she crossed her thin long legs covered in black transparent leggings in black angle boots. "Maitreya's son?"

Jephthah sighed as he took a seat, tired from standing for a long time and listening to these people ramble. "It will help me decide what to make. I can't just make a 'Divine Weapon'," he emphasized, explaining the obvious. 

"So she said," Lady Sanaea said as she leaned forward and put her hands on her thighs. "That whatever he sees in his dreams is coming to Na-pall sooner or later, it's bound to happen. She says it is driven by some motive,... revenge, she said" She said as she glanced at Sir Dapil. "But one thing is sure, not only will that thing come, it will come with more of its buddies and no one will be able to stop them, coz we are weak. Given that Na-pall won't answer. Maitreya won't help and Na-pall has deserted his worshippers, so this is our bet. I can not go warning everyone, I don't want Garena coming after me again. I have caused enough trouble."

"So I am making three 'weapons' or would it be four?" Jephthah asked he blankly stared at Cresce who seemed lost in his world not even following their conversation.

"Three... and Cresce is staying with you." Sir Dapil added as he looked around the room for the last time as he rubbed his hands together.

"What?!" Sir Doodle and Jephthah spat as they heard that.

"What story can I come up with explaining why he is joining so late?" Sir Doodle asked as he mumbled some other things under his breath and stopped looking through the files as he pinched the space between his eyes above his nose upset with his guests that always came with trouble.

"A teacher in training..." Lady Sanaea said with a shrug. "Under your favorite, Jephthah! Won't be hard to buy." she glared at Jephthah.

"We have not spoken about my payment and when you'll want it." Jephthah pointed out as he ignored Lady Sanaea's taunts.

"I would like three and expect it latest three weeks from today, Friday." Sir Dapil said. "How much is that?"

"That will make a thousand dinars in total."

"Dinars?" Sir Dapil repeated in disbelief.

"You said Na-pall is falling apart and how do you expect me to collect my due in Na-palliate coins?" Jephthah reasoned.

"Fair point, fair point." Sir Dapil repeated to himself audibly. "That'll be difficult but nothing I can not do." Sir Dapil said with a shrug as he sprung to his feet startling Jephthah once more.

With that Lady Sanaea stood and dusted her black Capelet with silver embroidery and silver buttons and made it straight as she prepared to leave the office. "It was nice meeting you again." She said as she gave a small bow to Sir Doodle who nodded accordingly. 

She then helped the older lady who had not said a word, probably scarred by her dreams. As they walked out the door followed by Sir Dapil. Leaving Sir Doodle, Jephthah, and Cresce in the office.

The trio walked slowly to the gate where there was a carriage waiting for them. The ride back to their various homes was quiet but Lady Sanaea could not help but remember their younger days when all four would hang out together doing whatever their heart felt was best. As they rode out of the vicinity of Forgeron Academy which was once their hideout. 'Well, it still is, quite a distance from Na-pall. If any doom were to fall on Napal, this would be a safe place. I wonder how many people know such a place exists in Na-pall.' Lady Sanaea thought as she bit her pale lips. 'Time does fly.' She missed those times.

"I wonder if he can create those things," Sanaea said concerned as she glanced at Dapil and Feruz, unlike the carefree manner she spoke at Doodle's office.

"Doodle trusts him," Feruz replied in a coarse voice and coughed a dry cough after that. Making Sanaea gently rub her back to stop her coughing session because it was very unsettling. "The same way, Dapil's dreams have meaning, Doodle always trusts the right people. I do not still know how he can meet them... it's still a... mystery."

"That's enough Feruz, here's water," Sanaea said as she brought a bottle of water that Feruz politely declined.

"I'm fine." She said dryly as she tried to suppress the cough.

"You're sure you don't need a doctor," Dapil asked as he looked at them with a questioning look.

"Of course not *cough*... after a while it stops *cough* *cough*" Feruz replied unconvincingly making the ride silent except for the noise of the whip and horses' hooves as they entered the inhabited area of Na-pall.